An operating device includes a touchpad having an operating surface for detecting touch inputs, which operating surface has multiple regions which are delimited from each other at least in part by one or more structural elements, each structural element being designed to have a first haptic effect on a finger when the finger swipes over the structural element; and a haptic actuator which is designed to have a second haptic effect which enhances the first haptic effect on the finger when the finger touches or swipes over a structural element. The operating device has a first operating mode in which the actuator is activated to produce the second haptic effect on the finger when the finger touches or swipes over a structural element, and a second operating mode in which the actuator is deactivated when the finger touches or swipes over a structural element.

A flexible electronic device is disclosed. The flexible electronic device includes a protruding unit, a flexible substrate and a plurality of sensing units. The flexible substrate is disposed on the protruding unit and has a deformation region corresponding to the protruding unit. The sensing units are disposed on the flexible substrate, and at least one of the sensing units is overlapped with the deformation region. A ratio of an area of the deformation region to an area of one of the at least one of the sensing units is greater than or equal to 1.4 and less than or equal to 2222.

A system for a vehicle includes a first input device and a second input device that provides a plurality of selectable input options. The plurality of selectable input options comprises a plurality of control input options for controlling a plurality of vehicle functions and an association input option for associating the first input device with at least one vehicle function suggested from among the plurality of vehicle functions. The at least one vehicle function is suggested based on historical use of the control input option that controls the at least one vehicle function and an accessibility score of the control input option.

A vehicle interface system is disclosed. The system includes a conductive textile 100 and circuitry 408. The conductive textile 100 is configured to provide user input information, wherein the user input information is in response to contact with the conductive textile. The circuitry 408 is configured to analyze the user input information, identify a user input based on the user input information, and determine an associated command based on the identified user input

An electronic device incudes a rotatable interface configured to be placed on an input device, the rotatable interface including a conductor region and an adjacent patterned region. The rotatable device further includes a first set of coupling electrodes configured to be electrically coupled to the conductor region and to receive a reference signal from a first electrode of the input device, and a second set of coupling electrodes configured to be electrically coupled to the patterned region and to be electrically coupled to a second electrode of the input device, the second electrode configured to receive a resulting signal modified by the rotatable interface. In embodiments, at least a portion of each electrode of the first set of coupling electrodes and the second set of coupling electrodes is respectively provided underneath the conductor and patterned regions, and is configured to abut the input device.

A vehicle interior trim element with haptic feedback functionincludes an elastic base layer that gives the vehicle interior trim element a soft feel, and a flexible cover layer. The flexible cover layer includes an electrically insulating top layer disposed on the visible side of the vehicle interior trim element, an electrically conductive sensor layer disposed between the upper layer and the base layer, and a piezoelectric actuator layer disposed between the sensor layer and the base layer. The sensor layer is configured to detect contact with the upper layer without deformation and to localize a corresponding contact area. The actuator layer is configured to provide haptic feedback.

A steering wheel arrangement 1 is described comprising a steering wheel (2) having a rim (3) and a steering column 4 rotatably supported in the housing (5) and connected to the rim (3), wherein an electric machine (9, 13, 14) is operatively connected to the steering wheel (2). Such a steering wheel arrangement should be able to produce a force feedback to a traditional steering wheel in a reliable low-cost solution with a high functional safety rating. To this end electric machine (9, 13, 14) is integrated in the rim (3).

A cab having a human-machine interface to generate a holographic image in order to control comfort equipment installed in the cab. The human-machine interface includes: a camera capable of capturing images representing a gaze of an occupant, one image generation unit having (a) a computer capable of calculating the position of the location of the occupant's gaze from the captured images, the computer being adapted to generate the digital holographic image according to the position of the occupant's gaze, (b) a spatial light modulator receiving the generated digital holographic image, and (c) a light source illuminating the spatial light modulator. The human-machine interface also includes a reflector reflecting the light beams emitted by the spatial light modulator into a visualizing window to form a holographic image positioned between the windscreen and the seat.

A vehicle interior control panel includes a pressure-sensitive slider switch embedded within the thickness and beneath a decorative surface of a deco panel. The slider switch in non-visible and includes a variable resistance layer that sequentially and electrically connects different pairs of electrical contacts in the deco panel as a user-applied pressure is moved across the decorative surface and over the slider switch. The slider switch operates to change a parameter or characteristic of a display panel during use. Light from a light source beneath the deco panel is emitted at the decorative surface through otherwise non-visible perforations. The control panel appears to be only a wood panel until activated via user-applied pressure.

Systems and methods are provided herein to simplify the functional offerings of vehicle control settings to those most frequently used by drivers. A virtual image of the switch set is depicted in the large information display of a vehicle showing the appropriate, context-based control functions for the task at hand. With the function graphics/instruction shown in the display, the graphics may be removed from the switch itself allowing for the user to interact with multipurpose controls that are easily understood and not limited by hard graphics printed on a switch. The use of the display may help a driver stay focused on the road.